Sports council to ask elite for Asiad cash

Sports council to ask elite for Asiad cash

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council has invited members
of the country's business elite who have in the past supported
sports development in the country to a meeting to discuss a
program to raise funds for the team competing in the 13th Asian
Games in Bangkok in December.

Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said yesterday that he
hoped the business heavyweights would renew their commitment to
national sports development during the meeting.

Among those invited are Anthony Salim, Eka Tjipta Wijaya,
Ibrahim Risyad, James Riady, Pontjo Sutowo and Prayogo Pangestu.
State Minister for Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng,
formerly a renowned businessman, has also been invited.

"We won't be able to meet the required budget by ourselves,
but we understand that the businesspeople are feeling the pinch
of the crisis and some may even be facing bankruptcy," Wismoyo
said.

"That's why we will try to share ideas and find the best
solution to the financial problems we are now facing."

However, Wismoyo did not give the date for the meeting.

He said council officials would not seek funds from ordinary
members of the public as it has done for the National Games in
the past and also when Indonesia hosted the 19th Southeast Asian
Games last year.

His statements contradict calls from State Minister of Sports
and Youth Affairs Agung Laksono's to raise funds from the public.

Wismoyo criticized Agung for ignoring the people's suffering.

"The people are suffering enough already," he said.

"I think the people will oppose the idea (to donate money to
the national Asian Games team). Perhaps we need a poll to confirm
the public's (negative) response," he said as quoted by Antara.

The council has estimated that preparations for the Asiad will
cost Rp 15 billion (US$100,000), one fifth of which will be
provided by the government. (yan)